Max temperature in a tank?

[em805]

I've always been told that the ideal reef tank temperature lies between 75-78 degree F. However, I have been reading some posts--and even some "Tank of the month" tank parameters--were the temprature goes into the low 80s. Large temperature shifts aside, what is the max temprature a reef tanks' inhabitants will handle (sps, inverts, fish, etc.)? What are the effects of relatively higher temperatures on a tank? Feel free to comment on all possible implications and possibly experiences that you may have had...

 

[tkeracer619]

77-78 is what mine does. I like it there so in case it goes crazy I have some headroom.

My tank got to 84-85 when it was 2 months old. Nothing liked it but took it for about 3-4 hours before I could get the temps down. Everything was closing up.

I was floating ice cubes in freezer bags inside the sump. Don't know what died but there was no second cycle, so I don't think much.

 

[Ti]

I've had things go south after 84

 

[em805]

Temperature

Temperature

My tank is a 60 gallon corner tank (very difficult to keep cool). I currently use:

Lighting:
-250w MH w/14k pheonix
-2 24w T5 actinics
(inside a 1.5 ft. canopy with 3 3 inch fans)

-I have a total of 4 pumps for water movement

Can't think of what else would be adding heat to the tank equipment wise...

I have never had a problem with heat, but I recently moved and my new home seems to get warmer in the day time at about 77-79 deg F. The max temprature my tank has reached is 81F--summer months are yet to come--should I be thinking about a chiller or should I not worry as long as max temprature doesn't reach 84F?

 

[Fiziksgeek]

My 135 got into the upper 80's last year when my heater malfunctioned. Surprisingly, nothing died, but everything sure looked unhappy...

 

[TrojanScott]

There are reefs that run in the high 80's, but they're used to it, and it's constant. As for aquariums, I think 85 is about as high as I'd like to see it. I used to run mine in the 75 range years ago, but I now run it in the 82-83 range with no issues. There's been quite a bit of talk about this, but I'm pretty sure Eric Borneman has quoted in his book that he thinks ideal temps for a reef aquarium should be in the low 80's. I'll take that guys word for it, that's for sure.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I remember hearing that as well.

I certainly don't worry about it too much. My tank typically runs at 81-82 in the summer months, and i keep it between 78 and 80 during the winter..

 

[xlayedoutx]

I was talking to a guy the other night that his tank got up to 92*. He lost like 2 snails but everything else seemed happy. All his corals and all his fish were fine. Tank was in the 90's for about 2 days. He went out of town and the A/C shut off and never came back on.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

In the winter my tank is between 76.5 & 79.5

In the summer 80-86 as a high
I've never lost anything due to heat
I don't have a chiller, just fans & 100g of water in the basement

 

[newty]

IME, It has gone up to 86 with no losses and no discernable stress on the inhabitants.

Shawn

 

[Maldivan]

Hmm well mine runs from 82-84 in the summer and Ive had no problems at all. I evap 2-3 gals a day with 1 fan over the sump and 2x4" fans in the canopy. I have excellent growth and nothing seems to mind it at all. Its been this way for 2 years so I cant seem to off the cash for a chiller when nothing is effected. I also believe stable temps are the key , as long as its not a huge swing I dont think 80-ish is an issue at all.

 

[em805]

Temp

Temp

Thanks for the feedback guys, I feel much better knowing that most of you have not had any serious issues with higher temps. I don't think my 3-4 deg temp change is gonna justify buying a chiller. I think I'll buy more coral instead--since I'm doing so well .

 

[Sarunas]

You can make a simle temperature controler based on DS18B20 or similar temperature sensor and control ordinary compiuter fans to blow hot air from metal halides and also to blow the water surface to stimulate evaporation. I have 3x250W MH and 4xT5 80W (aquarium 220gal) and temperature fluctuation during the day is only 1 degree of Celsius (26-27 C or 78.8-80.6 F).

 

[em805]

Temp

Temp

Sarunas, I tried blowing air into the tank for a while, but found that there was just too much dust being blown into the system and switched all my fans to blow out the air instead... Currently I have two 3 inch fans on the front of the canopy blowing air out and one 3 inch fan on the top of the canopy blowing air out. Would anyone do it different and why? Thanks in advance .

 

[jaymz101]

I would think that as long as the temp increase (or decrease) is slow enough to let the inhabitants adjust slowly there shouldnt be a problem (Reefs are tropical and tropical water temps can reach the high 80's in the summer) Above the 80's I wouldnt want to try (or much below 70 either). Higher temps will increase metabolism though and things wont live as long .

 

[roons]

also, the higher the temp goes the less oxygen the water can hold..................i dont like to see mine go over 82, but i used to let it get up to 86 with no probs................i also had a pump freeze up(when i was a rookie and didnt clean it), went up to 92 , still nothing lost

 

[bklynmet]

My tank before the T5s varied daily from 78 to 81 (outside summer) and 80 to 84 during the summer. Now with the T5s, 77 to 78.5 and yet to go through a summer with them. Algae seems to grow quicker when it's warmer.

 

[Jayreefer]

My four tanks just went up to 90 when my AC broke while I was in LA. I lost an athias, 2 cleaner shrimp, and a green acro. frag. Outr of four tanks I consider myself lucky. I am now buying a chiller for safty.